The Jewel of Mirkwood

(A/N) *Taps foot* I told you not to speculate on what the next chapter was about cause you all got it wrong..........

STORY PLOT TIP #1 = Glorfindel and Erestor arrived in the MORNING to Keeldon's house!!!!!!!!

Chapter 27

Erestor followed quietly behind his friend taking in the scenery of the sparsely furnished hall. So engrossed was Erestor in his surrounds that he did not notice that Glorfindel had come to a stop in front of him before it was too late. Glorfindel grunted and stumbled forward a little as Erestor ran into him from behind with a startled yelp. Regaining his steady position Glorfindel glanced back over his shoulder and rolled his eyes contemptibly at Erestor’s inattention, sometimes his friend did little to warrant his position as a noble elf.

“Welcome Glorfindel of Gondolin it has been a long time.” Erestor side stepped his friend and watched with interest as an orange haired man strode quickly into the hall from a side entrance. It looked as if the man had dressed in a hurry his hands still tying up the laces of his blue robe even as he stopped in front of Glorfindel and bowed lowly.

“Yes it has been a long time Keeldon.” Glorfindel’s tone was clipped and short insuring that there was no room for polite conversation. Erestor watched as Glorfindel and Lord Keeldon shook hands in the fashion of men before the tall proud lord turned his attention to Erestor.

“Lord Keeldon may I present my dearest friend Lord Erestor.” Reluctantly Erestor took Keeldon’s offered hand cringing at the slick sweatiness of the man’s palm, a sure sign of his nervousness around the two elves.

“It is nice to meet you Lord Erestor.” Keeldon looked suspiciously over Erestor but said nothing as he turned his attention back to Glorfindel. “Will you not both come and have breakfast with me?” Keeldon gestured towards a large round table at the head of the hall, already set up for a large breakfast. Nodding their acceptance of the offer Glorfindel followed Keeldon to the table, Erestor obediently padding behind them. He was not going to say anything unless necessary already Erestor did not trust Lord Keeldon, the man’s shifty grey eyes too suspicious for one that claimed to be bound by truth. There was an inherent distrust in Erestor of any men but this particular man had something about him that told Erestor of great suffering and pain all inflicted by his sword roughed hands.

“Lamella, tell the cook to bring up another dish of fruit I have guests for breakfast.” Keeldon casually called over his shoulder to the young servant standing obediently behind the table. Bowing in acknowledgement the servant disappeared before all three men now sat down at the table. Erestor consciously insured that he put Glorfindel between him and Keeldon when they sat down on the man’s right. The man’s hungry gaze, which swept over Erestors’ body made the dark haired elf uneasy and self-conscious. Two servants appeared shortly from the curtained area to the right side of the hall and began serving what sweet meats and fruits were already laid on the table between the three of them. “So Lord Glorfindel what do I owe this pleasure of your unexpected visit?” Glorfindel sipped calmly from his glass of wine, waving the servantitelitely away from his plate as the young boy attempted to put more of the rich meat onto his plate.

“We are merely passing through, Lord Elrond asked us to survey the orc activity on the plain and Edoras seemed the likely place to stay for a little while.” Keeldon began chewing loudly on his meat, gravy dribbling down his chin as he smiled at Glorfindel through a mouthful of food. The disgusting scene turned Erestors stomach inside out, instantly putting the elf off the breakfast laid before him. Erestor did not realise he was staring in utter disgust at Keeldon until Glorfindel elbowed him sharply in the ribs causing him to cough a little in surprise.

“My housekeeper tells me you have come for your repayment? Am I to assume that a room and bed in my house during you stay in Edoras will be apart of such repayments?” Glorfindel chuckled unperturbed by Lord Keeldon’s nasty grunt in regards to the long-standing transaction between the elf and the man.

“You know me to well Lord Keeldon and Erestor and I will graciously accept any room you will provide us with during our stay.” Keeldon belched loudly as he drained his goblet of wine in one go crudely wiping his mouth with the sleave of his robe. Erestor could hardly believe his eyes, even the rangers, which passed through Rivendell, did not show such abhorrent manners, as this man seemed to do. To avoid staring Erestor buried his nose in his goblet of wine, cautiously watching over its rim as Glorfindel and Keeldon conversed with one another. It was obvious Glorfindel’s dislike of the man with every forced polite facial expression Glorfindel made. Erestor suddenly realised why his friend hakenaken offence at Erestor having referred to his relationship with the man as friendship.

“Well you will get your room but I will take 50 gold pieces from the payment for the trouble it will cause me.” Glorfindel raised an angry eyebrow at Keeldon at the exorbitant price Keeldon had subtracted from the payment but withheld his comment not willing to unsettle a boat that was already precariously positioned in the water. “You will get your money tomorrow and then I will wash my hands of you. You scrounging elves would hold a dying man to his word.” Erestor instantly took offence at the insult the man had just casually slipped into conversation about the entire race of elves but Glorfindel’s firm hand gripping his knee under the table stayed Erestors tongue. Already Erestor hated the man in their company and would not be happy until they had left this place and all of its thieving, intolerable inhabitants. Sensing Erestor’s growing dislike of Keeldon Glorfindel kept han hand gently resting on his friend’s knee insuring a small calming comfort for the unexperienced elf by his side.

“You were not dying Keeldon and I did not force you to make the promise of gold to me. The water was only to my knees and if you hadn’t been so drunk you might have been able to stand up and save yourself from drowning without my help.” Erestor smiled secretly behind his goblet of wine amused by the story behind Keeldon’s repayment to Glorfindel for saving his life. Keeldon grunted in disapproval of the memory brought up by the elf and gestured for the servants to refill his and the other men’s goblets choosing to ignore the comment.

“Well it is done and when I have paid you, I will be rid of your infernal presence in my life. When I made the promise I didn’t count on you being around for this long. The way you seem to attract trouble I am surprised you have even lasted 1 year let alone nearly 4900.” Keeldon brought out a pipe and some weed from a tin on the table and instantly set about packing it and lighting the Smokey thing.

“4987 actually” Glorfindel quickly and cheekily amended. Keeldon merely snorted as he blew smoke into the air causing Erestor to cough a little at the smell of the foul weed.

“And you have such a way of turning up at bad times.” Glorfindel sneered at Keeldon’s comment but held his tongue choosing to sip his wine rather than retaliating in kind to the lord’s nasty comment.

“Really has our arrival interrupted something of importance to you Keeldon?” Gaining his composure and reigning in his desire to strangle the man in front of him Glorfindel spoke calmly through the cloud of smoke that Keeldon purposely blew his way.

”Yes as a matter of fact it has.” Keeldon smiled smugly and Glorfindel felt a shudder run the length of his spine. Keeldon was an evil man his desire for riches and his seh reh regard for no one but himself making him for one of the worst men Glorfindel had ever had the misfortune of being known to. “I’ve recently acquired a new play thing.” Glorfindel frowned and gripped the stem of his goblet tighter knowing full well what Keeldon was referring to. Edoras like many of the cities of men was riith ith debauchery and slavery. Young children not even out of their learning years were sold by their families to rich men who took delight in deflowering them upon their coming of age, using them for their sexual gratification and to entertain their friends with lewd acts.

“I pity the young woman that’s forced to suffer a life time at your hands.” Glorfindel’s comment cut the air like a knife his anger at slavery once again showing its roots from deep within him. Keeldon didn’t seem to take any notice of him however and merely chuckled his smug little laugh.

”Yes I pity all of the women I’ve had Glorfindel it is why I have taken a male this time around.” Erestor watched in despair as Glorfindel continually restrained himself from smacking Keeldon to the floor in one foul swoop. The man was disgusting and Erestor was all but ready to get up and walk out of the house happy to sleep on the streets while they searched for Legolas rather than owe Keeldon anything. “He is a pretty thing unusual among men. Strong features and a beautifully sculptured body that just begs to be broken…” Keeldon paused and Erestor froze, as the man looked directly at him a cruel smile twisting into the corners of his lips. “Much like your friend Glorfindel.” Erestor clenched his fists tightly in his lap and for the first time during the entire meal found his voice.

“I do not need to be broken Lord Keeldon. I assure you that.” Erestor’s piercing voice left nothing to the imagination about what he felt towards Keeldon and Glorfindel instantly stayed his friend with a gently hand upon his suddenly tense shoulder.

“He is baiting you Erestor, ignore him. He is sick and means nothing to us.” Glorfindel spoke calmly in elvish to his friend so that Keeldon couldn’t understand, and watched in relief as Erestor swallowed hard and calmed down again, although he did not relax.

“No I am sure you don’t my lord but it would be fun to do it all the same.” Keeldon licked his lips in a seductive swipe his eyes liberally raking over Erestor’s form making the elf exceedingly uncomfortable as he unconsciously moved closer to Glorfindel seeking his friend’s protection.

“Do not bother pursuing Erestors attentions Keeldon I would have your head before you even laid a hand upon his body.” Glorfindel growled at the back of his throat his patients with Lord Keeldon slowly wearing thin and he had not even been in his house more than a few moments. Glorfindel was beginning to regret ever bothering to find a room at Keeldon’s house. They would have been better paying the high prices of the inns at least then they would not had to have put up with Keeldon’s insatiable rudeness.

“Ooooh have I stepped upon your territory Glorfindel?” Keeldon crooned sarcastically as he once again puffed a cloud of grey smoke out over the two elves with no regard for the coughing. “I apologise, I did not think dark hair was your type?” Glorfl cll clenched his fists together on top of the table his angry gaze never leaving Keeldon’s. For some reason the man had taken the upper hand in the conversation and Glorfindel did not understand what the man knew that made him so cock sure and confident. It was unsettling considering their mission here in Edoras and Glorfindel was becoming exceedingly worried that was something he was missing about Keeldon’s manner. “No matter my beauty upstairs is far superior to your friend Glorfindel. I believe, when you see him, you will be quite taken by his appearance and will be quite envious of me.” Glorfindel and Erestor watched as Keeldon produced a long leather strap from between the folds of his robe before unhooking a silver key from a band around his wrist.

“Nothing you could ever have would possible evoke envy in me for you Keeldon. Do not bother to parade the poor soul you have brought for our benefit it only serves to make me think worse of you as a man.” Glorfindel was making no attempt now at hiding his disgust for the man. Keeldon had become worse than Glorfindel remembered and the was was definitely considering leaving the house before midday. Out of abhorrent curiosity however Glorfindel wished to see the poor man Keeldon had taken for his new mate, if only to extend his deepest sympathies knowing full well that he could do nothing to help the doomed soul. To intervene in any matter concerning the race of men was like taking to old paper with a fire flint. The anger it would fuel would surely cause war and while Glorfindel wished only for every soul to be free he was not stupid enough to potentially damage the precarious rift between the races by freeing one doomed man.

“Yastire come in here!” Keeldon called loudly for one of his guards turning momentarily back to the two Imaldris elves a wicked gleam in his eye. “You forget I do not care what you think of me Glorfindel and I parade him for my benefit not only yours.” A man dressed in Edoras’ guard uniform appeared at the entrance to the hall, bowing low to Lord Keeldon before moving over to stand at the end of the table after Keeldon’s becoming hand. “Bring my beauty down stairs to me, insure he is stripped naked and do not fail to attach the strap to his collar and you may want to take up some of the other guards with you, he can be difficult to restrain at times” Yastire nodded and bowed as he took the black leather strap and the key from the table before striding out of the hall quickly. Glorfindel felt sick to the stomach in his mind he could only think of what Legolas might be suffering at the hands of his own captors. If they were anything like Keeldon Legolas would not last more than a few days. “I believed my beauty to be very passive and shy when I first encountered him, although I sire ire in his eyes I did not think he would act upon it but last night I learned he was quite the opposite. I feisty young man with lungs as vocal I have ever heard scream. I see him as a challenge and it is most thrilling a hobby.” Keeldon’s sickening laugh made both Erestor and Glorfindel cringe and it was then that Glorfindel was resolved to leave at the first opportunity that arose.

“You are sick.” Glorfindel spat out the words like dirt on his lips and rose hastily from the table slamming his fists down into the wood in defiance and disgust. Glorfindel and Erestor went to begin abusing Keeldon together but some loud scuffles from upstairs and pitiful screams of help stilled both elves to the spot, the colour in their faces draining, even as Keeldon began laughing at them in amused delight.


TBC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

(A/N) Oh boy the next two chapters are going to blow you away and believe me this is where the plot comes into it's own.